So you signed up for the marathon. That's great. Entering a marathon event is a great way to hold yourself accountable. Now all you have to do is put on your best running shoes and focus on your training.

Until race day, and if you're planning to run 26.2 miles, it can be a little daunting to see how many times a week you'll run and how many miles you'll run. But if you find a plan that fits your running ability and lifestyle, you will absolutely make it to the finish line and have a great time along the way.

I'm in the midst of a 16-week marathon training plan right now, and I've learned a few things to help make my training manageable and my experience enjoyable. Take a look at these 5 essential tips for marathon training.

Questions like "What is your goal?" are often asked in life. Knowing what you want to get out of the experience will help motivate you overall and prepare you physically and mentally for the actual event.

Some may simply pick a marathon event off their bucket list and just want to soak up the incredible atmosphere without worrying about the time. Others may participate in a marathon to raise money for charity and set their sights on the fundraising total rather than the race time. On the other hand, some people aim to complete a marathon within a specific time or to obtain a qualifying time for a marathon.

If you decide from the beginning what you want out of a race, it will be easier to develop a plan to support it, and whatever the ultimate goal is, the miles you put in during the training phase will have a purpose.

Sadly, training runs are not the time for you. It is up to you.

To ensure that you are able to complete each training run, look over your training plan before each week begins, make adjustments so that each run is timed to best fit your schedule, and if you follow the plan and have the option, download each run workout to your running watch will really benefit you in the present and in the future.

I love syncing my Runna marathon plan with my Garmin watch.

Whether it's your first marathon or your seventh, this distance is tough on your body and training will test you to make you stronger.

Running intensively 7 days a week will not get you a PB, but it will increase your risk of overtraining and injury. I have learned the importance of checking my energy level and overall health with a running watch.

I use a Garmin Fenix 7S, which gives me detailed feedback on how my body is performing and responding to training. I can see how ready I am for training, how much battery power I have left, how well I am sleeping, when my period is due, and many other things that affect my training. The more attentive I am to these statistics, the better runner I am because I know why I felt sluggish or weak in a training session and what I need to adjust to avoid it in the future, or simply need more rest.

Running is a great way to clear your head, but if you are running 20-30 miles a week, you can get tired of the sound of your own thoughts. Similarly, it's easy to get fed up with the same old music library; it doesn't hurt to spend half an hour or so creating a running playlist and keeping songs on your device that motivate you or put you in a fun mood. Better yet, download your favorite songs to your Garmin and you can go for a run without your cell phone. We explained how to add music to your Garmin watch.

Music isn't the only thing that can provide entertainment while running. So are great podcasts and audiobooks. I like to listen to one or three podcasts on a long run, but I love to listen to electronic dance music during a tempo workout. The more you experiment with what you listen to while running, the more you will find what works for you.

Marathons are an incredible feat to accomplish individually, but that doesn't mean you have to do it all alone. Training will be a significant part of your life, and it can get a little lonely, especially if you don't know anyone else who will be running the same marathon as you.

So say yes to the friend who invited you to go running and catch up. If it's a shorter distance than your training plan says, start running with a friend and finish alone. Whether it's a run club at work, an official group, or a run club you started with a friend, friends make a difference in your training. Also, if you need and can afford a coach, get one to help you train. If you can't afford a coach, but still want some guidance with your training, there are plenty of great running apps out there.